St. Maarten Private Eye

And sometimes I sign as JB, sometimes as J. Baptiste, sometimes as J.N. Baptiste, I guess it depends on my mood that day so what's your point? I now understand why people who write letters to the papers and on here refrain from using their names. This is exactly the type of backlash they fear. Went digging into the voter's list? Busy trying to figure out who I am. That list also have addresses, what are you gonna do when you find me? Pay me a visit?

You sure you have the right list? Even the list after all those people who didn't get a voting card and was reported not on the list? Even that list? I dunno, I'm not gonna attempt to clarify anything from a list that still has dead people as voters. I must have really ruffled some feathers in here if posters are now checking into my background after I was comfortable enough to use my name. Not that it's any of your business, but the Herald has my name, address and phone number on file. And they've called to verify when I write. You know standard procedure.

And no rebuke from SXMPE? Wow. So I guess the point is clear, don't use your name. I didn't realise that SXMPE, who caters to mostly anonymous commenters, now requires people to explain who they are, where they are from etc etc. So I won't start now. You have my name, deal with it. Whats yours?

Then you say I pop up around election time. Did I miss something while I was off island for a bit? Is there an election going on now? Yet here I am talking about....the environment. Not about any politician. So what's your point? I have written in the Herald about issues from crime, to education to Carnival. I have not mentioned the DP anywhere here in my last posts, so where did your "i'm spinning" theory come from? I didn't mention the DP, you did.

Now I am not blind. I do realise that I am one of the sole voices in here that tends to look at things from a perspective that supports the status quo, the establishment. My tone, as Veen pointed out before, comes over harsh and "don't carish" sometimes. I know this. But I take away great suggestions from a wide range of issues here on SXMPE, I get an education. But there are times when I feel that posters don't quite grasp the realities of the "ground game" as it relates to a particular issue and the people of St. Maarten. That's where I usually chime in. Now excuse me mr/mrs poster if I kicked in the door to the kingdom, but I thought we were all free to make comments and have a discussion.

But nooo. Your post reminds me of.....the DP! Don't stand against them lest you be persecuted, you personal life rummaged through. Don't stand against them or your opinions simply gets tossed in the "who she think she be" box. Don't stand against them or you risk your opinions being classified as "conspiracy theories and spinning" simply because they are not in line with theirs. Let me know how you like the image in the mirror I just placed in front of you.

If some posters on SXMPE have come to believe that the site is solely an anti-government site, and anyone who even utters a word different than the majority of opinions is some sort of unwelcomed outsider, then I am saddened. Because I do not see the site as such. I could of course be wrong, but I hope not. I will not let one poster speak for all. Unless all start to echo your statements. Then I'll know.

JB, Juliana Baptiste, Juliana Jno Baptiste, J.N. Baptiste

PS: I think it is hilarious how an annonymous poster is going to state that he/she/it can't take ME seriously....an ANNONYMOUS poster!

Actually, I think you make some very important suggestions in your previous post Juliana, it is my hope that once SXM PE gets relaunched and making an income from advertising, it's gift store and donations then we will be able to take the message and information to the people as you suggest by sponsoring such efforts and programs. It does need to be approached as a political campaign issue, because it is. You are right, the politicians will jump on board, few if any of them are real leaders, they are followers pretending to be leaders and jumping out in front when it's politically expedient to do so.

You are right about users asking other users questions about identity, there is no requirement for people to use their real names here and if they do then they do so at their own risk. We prefer instead that people keep to the issues and arguments and refrain from personal matters, or attacks, on other users.

I won't claim to be an expert on moderating, it is a learning process and something new always pops up, like this thread. The writer who questions if the name you use is your real name has fair questions, you do present yourself as local, you do often support the governing party and it's policies and you do often present counter arguments to those espoused by regular writers here. It is not unreasonable to consider the possibility you do have an agenda coming here, it is fairly common for political and business interests (Exxon) to employ people to troll blogs and websites to cause disinformation and arguments. Nor is it unheard of that the supporters of political parties or causes do the same thing on their own time.

That person has an opinion about you and your writing, they explained how they came to that opinion, and you are free to reply and respond as you wish. One commenter's opinion does not speak for everyone else that uses this site, consider it like a stage, the readers are the audience.

I don't care who you are, there is nothing wrong with using an alias to write under and in fact I encourage it because it helps readers to follow a writers opinion and decide how much weight that writers opinion has with them, a reputation in a way.

Your case is tricky, on the one hand you use a name that you claim is real and another user claims that it is not. The user questions who you are because they are suspicious that you may be someone like, say Theo, or Maria? lol. Why not, Maria is fond of the internet and Theo is a smart cookie too. It is really up to you how much you want to prove you are a real person and your name is real, you are under no obligation to do so and I will make sure I moderate any more comments that press the question. Readers are quite able to decide for themselves what they think and how much value and consideration they give to what you say in your comments.

SXM PE is not an anti government site at all, but it does have an agenda and flavor based on progressive thinking and ideas, human rights, justice, environment, animal welfare, education etc. It's not hidden, and the fact that most of the politicians and policies the government has now clashes with these ideals just contributes to the taste. While SXM PE is open to anyone to contribute to, the core writers and moderators behind it support the agenda and you should not be surprised that your views get challenged.

The new SXM PE will make it so much easier for any user to post blogs and if well written or if they light a fire for an intelligent and educational debate then they will get promoted to the front page. Even Roy, Theo and Maria would be able to post blogs if they wanted, but anyone doing so must be aware that this is a forum and there will likely always be others who will disagree or challenge the views or ideas presented by the writer. You will be able to post your letter to the papers directly as blogs and create discussions and debates about whatever you want.

Anyway, I've been unable to log on for a couple days and there is a list of comments waiting to be published. As I say, i will pay more attention to the issue of users questioning others about identity. - Flipper